Character Quotes

I am one of the Five Great Swords of Japan. You may call me Juzumaru Tsunetsugu. Through the long years, as people's values have changed again and again, I have fixed my gaze on the true meaning of Buddhism. ...A tool that cuts down people is protecting the way of the Buddha. I wonder if this state of affairs is a mistaken one...

Juzumaru was originally enshrined in the Kuon-ji temple founded by Nichiren. However, he went missing in the 18th century. In 1920, he was rediscovered by Sugihara Shouzou, a member of the Imperial Household Agency, in a noble's collection. He bought Juzumaru and attempted to return Juzumaru to Kuon-ji, but the temple lacked the funds to buy him. After years of negotiations, Juzumaru was given to Honkou-ji temple instead, where he remains to this day. (See History section for more details.)

この世は苦しみに満ちています。…それを和らげるのが信仰であり、僧の役割なのです

This world is full of sorrows. ...What brings relief is religious faith, which is the duty of a monk.

Juzumaru is reciting the daimoku, a mantra chanted by followers of Nichiren Buddhism. Its exact translation would be "Hail to the Lotus Sutra", the Lotus Sutra being a very honored sutra within Nichiren Buddhism.